03 Jun 2018

 

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic is looking into using Botswana’s mining model in their minerals exploration programme. 

 

Speaking during the visit to Botswana, President Brahim Ghali said his government was looking into prospecting for uranium and phosphate, hence his visit to Karowe Diamond Mine on Friday.

 Mr Ghali visited the mine before returning to Sahawari following a three-day official visit. 

 

During the benchmarking exercise and the tour of the mine, Mr Ghali was taken through the mine’s processes as well as its contribution to the economy. The mine’s managing director, Ms Naseem Lahri told President Ghali and his delegation that the mine, which has employed about 1 000 people, contributed to the economy through employment, taxes as well as corporate social responsibility. 

President Ghali learnt that the mine had this year spent over P1.1 billion out of which close to 80 per cent was expended on local companies. 

 

He further learnt that the mine was forecasted to spend US$30 million on an underground study which would potentially increase the mine lifespan by 10 years while an additional US$6 million would be spent on exploration. 

Ms Lahri also told President Ghali about the mine’s history which included yielding many high quality large diamonds, among them 154 diamonds which were sold for more than US$1 million each and nine diamonds for more than US$10 million each. 

 

Among the diamonds was the 813-carat constellation single rough diamond sold in 2016 at a record price of US$ 63.1 million. Again, she said the 1 109 carat Lesedi La Rona diamond was recovered in 2015, the second largest gem quality diamond on record and sold in 2017 for US$ 53 million. 

President Ghali was further told that they recently recovered a 472-carat top light brown stone, the third largest stone recovered at the mine. 

 

He also learnt that Karowe Diamond Mine has invested on corporate social responsibility through Karowe Emerging Entrepreneurs Fund, Letlhakane Abattoir, Brick moulding project and fabric tailor project among others.  Karowe pit is 140 metres deep and its width is 610 metres east-west and 710 metres north-south. It is expected that the mine pit depth would be 324 metres in 10 years as it would potentially go underground. Its production stood at 2.6 million tonnes and 14.9 million tonnes of waste.

 

 It has three lobes of the broader ore body, south, centre and north, with the south being the biggest about 80 per cent of the whole ore body while the centre and north are slightly smaller.

 In terms of quality the south has a higher value followed by the centre and the north. Meanwhile, President Ghali thanked Botswana for the hospitality while he was in the country.  ENDS